Storage battery



Feb. 2, 1932. R. HEI'ZMANN 1,843,421

STORAGE BATTERY Filed March 21. 1929 FIG-"Z1 WITNESSES H mwzp/roza; M Raynwm Hazynmzm, M I I W BY I '1 TTORNEYS. Q

i pletely submerged 45 constitutin Patented F eb. 2, 1932 UNITED STA RAYMOND mm, or nmnme, PENNSYLVANIA s'r'omen BATTERY Application filed larch 21,

This invention relates to storage batteries, and has more particular reference to portable storage batteries of the kind used in connection with automobiles.

In caring for automotive storage batteries, it has been the practice heretofore to rely upon the upper edges of the battery grids as gages in an efi'ort to maintain a uniform level of the electrolyte with the grids comt all times. In view of the small extent of the grids visible through the filler' openings of the batteries, it was quite a diflicult matter to properly gage the level of the electrolyte, especially if the cars 5 were tilted as when standing on an inclination or slope at the time of adding replenishing water to the batteries.

Thepurpose of my invention is to overcome the recited drawback of previous practice through provision in each cell of the batteries, as hereinafter fully disclosed, of a centrally allocated gage means wh ch is plainly visible through the filler opening of the cell so that the level of the liquid can be accurately aged irresgelactive of the t1lt of the car at tIle time of ling, thereby to 111- sure against introduction of either an madequatesu'pply on the one hand, or an over supp'l on the other with avoidance of the harm ul effects likely to result under these conditions.

In the drawings Fig. I 1s in part a side elevation and in part a longitudinal section 'of a storage battery conveniently embodying my illVGlllJlOll.

Fi II shows a cross section through one of the cells of the battery; and,-

Fig. III is a fragmentary perspective view showm a modification.

The attery chosen for the purposes of illustration herein is, generally speaking, standard in construction in that-it comprises an insulate casing 10 aflording anumber of separate chambers 11, each such chamber I one of the battery cells. The casing 10 1s closedat the top by sealed in covers 12 which are individual to the chambers '11 and have central filling openings 13 fitted with removable screw plugs or caps 14-'all as common in this art. Also as usual,

1929. Serial n. $48,888.

each battery cell lljis provided with its complement of plate grid and spacer elements 15, 16. In carrying out my invention, I- form the intermediate element of the group 15, 16 of 65 each cellin the present instance the plate grid designated 15a in Fig. I--with a central point projection 17 that rises above the upper edge plane of such late grid so as to be visible through the fi ing opening 13. When-adding water, as required from time to time'to compensate for evaporation in the electrolyte, the battery cell 11 is in each case filled untilthe level stands approximately midway of the height of the lug or point projection 17. A definite level is t us accurately determinable individually for the electrolyte in the several cells 11 irrespective as to whether the car in which the battery is used is standing on an even keel or not atthe time of filling. o

For greater accurac in gaging, I ma 1n 7 addition, provide neig boring plate gri s 15 v or spacerslfi immediately to opposite sides of the medial plate grid 15a with central lug or point projections 18 similar to the lug or point projection 17 but preferably shorter as regards height. With this arrangement, the proper level of the electrolyte is determined when the tops-of the auxiliary gage projections 18 are just about submerged but with the age (pro ection 17 still protruding above the i ui as shown.

In ig. III I have shown a modification of m invention wherein the ga e projection 3 17a is afforded by a clip 20 a apted to he slipped over the top edge either of the'medial plate grid 15 or the spacer 16 '(as the case may be) of the battery cell 11. The modification can obviously be employed in lieu of the specially constructed medial late grid (or. spacer) of the first describe embodiment, and is moreover capable of ready application to existent batteries in converting them to the urposes of m invention.

aving thus escribed my invention, I claim: 1 f

1. In a storage battery cell with a multiplicit of grid and v acer elements, a mediallya ocated upwar point projection visible throu h the battery filler opening, and neighgoring plate grids to opposite sides of the first mentioned plate grid having similar projections of lesser height, the several point 5 pro ections serving collectively as a gauge in predetermining the proper level of the elec trolyte irrespective of the tilt of the cell at the time of filling.

2. In a storage battery cell with a filler 1 opening in the middle of its top and a multiplicity of grid and spacer elements, a medially allocated point clip projection on one of the plate grids above the upper edge plane of the group, and neighboring plate grids 15 at opposite sides of said medially allocated late rid havin similar clip projections of esser eight, an all of said clip projections being visible through the filler opening and jointly serving as a gauge in predetermining 20 proper level of the electrolyte irrespective of the tilt of the cell at the time of filling.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto si ned my name at Reading, Pennsylvania, this 18th day of March 1929.

25 nAYMdNn HEIZMANN. 

